Chthonic Vocalist Speaks At U.N. Press Conference

This is the speech made by Freddy, Chthonic's vocalist in New York City and Washington, DC on the 12th and 13th September's press conferences.

Freddy Lim, Vocalist of ChthoniC2007/09/12

"As a musician, I am here to make noise for my fans. As a Taiwanese citizen, I am here to make noise for my countrymen. I have sung across America for more than 2 months for my fans, and now I will take the opportunity here to speak for my fellow Taiwanese.

Taiwan's sparkling talents range from sculptor Ming Chu, to the internationally-acclaimed director Ang Lee, to the internationally renowned Cloud Gate dance troup, to the Sahara-crossing ultra-marathon runner Kevin Lin, to Major League Baseball players such as New York Yankees star Chien-ming Wang. Taiwan's creative gifts and energy can not be contained within borders or forced to abide by the restrictions of political deal-making. The 23 million people of Taiwan are living diligently and sensibly, with the wish to freely thrive in this world as equal partners on our shared planet. Like the people mentioned above, we are not politicians, and all we can do is to fight our best in our own career, to use the cultural power to fight against Chinese strong military threats, and -- through the artistic language -- to spread ideals that our countrymen believe about how the international society puts limitations on Taiwan.

During our two-month American tour, most fans and media have supported the message that we carry during this tour. At our concerts, the fans show their anger toward those politicians in United Nations by shouting and even cursing; back home, these fans even put their efforts of supporting Taiwan into their daily life, like a report I've just received from a fan who wrote about Taiwan for her Social Justice Action class project to spread the message to her classmates and friends. For these young people, it's very logical and natural to support Taiwan to join the international society and for Taiwanese to share the same international rights that they have, but the politicians in United Nations seem to think it's more logical and natural to sacrifice Taiwan in their political games."

"I was impressed by some native American fans in Albuquerque. They said they support us not just because they appreciate our music, but also the message that we carry. They told me that they have been oppressed in the United States for several hundred years. When they realized we are talking about Taiwanese suffering from oppression, they identified with us. While it was glad to hear that our music connects different people in the world, it also made me sad. In the history of human beings, the oppression never stops. Internally Taiwan has this problem, and also we are facing with oppression from other countries. I wonder when we can realize the dream society of the true equality?

A few people have complained that we are too political, but for me, I don't feel anything political in our message. It's a very simple message that we, the Taiwanese citizens, want to have the same international rights as the citizens of America and other countries represented by the United Nations. I don't believe this is too much to ask.

The politicians in the United Nations object to Taiwan's application year after year. But I want to ask them, if the government that we vote for cannot represent us as a member of the United Nations, which one can? I know that those politicians in United Nations are trying to convince the world that, according to their One China policy, the tyrannical Chinese government represents us Taiwanese people. But how can they believe that? As a fellow citizen of a Democratic society, I don't think the Chinese government -- which is not democratically elected -- is even legal to represent their own people in China, but now the UN is saying that they can also represent Taiwan, a democratic society that Chinese Communist Government has never ruled? This insults the democratic ideals on which America was founded. I hope each politician in United Nations votes with their conscience, and does the right thing.

According to the United Nations website, their slogan is UN, it's your world. It should be the world of each human being on the earth, shouldn't it? It's a simple slogan, and we, the Taiwanese citizens, still, still believe in this slogan. That's why we try to join the UN year after year. If the United Nations continues to reject us, please change your slogan. UN, it's hypocrites' world. Or just change the name, no more United Nations, but Divided Nations.

A few days ago, John Negroponte, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, said that Taiwan's push for UN membership is "a mistake." I can't believe what he said. The United STATES always considers herself as a role model for freedom and democracy, but the now U.S. is standing alongside the Chinese communist government to threaten a democratic Taiwan and block us from joining the international society. Your ancestors, who risked their lives to fight for independence, would be ashamed. Is this country still the united STATES of America, or just a PROVINCE of China? Is John Negroponte the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, or a spokesman of China?

Even though we might criticize your government and foreign policy, I'm grateful that America still issued us the visas to play here and express our beliefs. It shows that this is still a Country that supports Democracy and Freedom. I still have faith in your Country, so please support a democratic Taiwan and let the Taiwanese citizens share the same rights as your citizens in the international community. Don't let us down.

Finally, I want to thank our management, PR company, Record Label, booking agent, all the Taiwanese and Americans who assisted us during this tour, and our fans for their support."